Author: Fox Valley Magazine

Old Town Pour House, located in the Freedom Commons in Naperville, describes itself as a “trendy bar with upscale pub food & a massive beer list” that it boasts is one of the best in the country. An expansion from the Chicago location, the Naperville venue offers a Rock N Roll weekend brunch; a gorgeous outdoor patio with fireplace; large HDTVs with state-of-the-art audio; a glass encased private dining room; and Happy Hour every weekday. Our Kevin Ketchum gave it a try recently, with excellent results. (Photo credit Kevin Ketchum)

The Elgin Symphony Orchestra will be presenting the Beethoven Violin Concerto featuring violinist Stella Chen this Saturday and Sunday The Hemmens Cultural Center in Elgin. American violinist Stella Chen garnered worldwide attention with her first-prize win at the 2019 Queen Elizabeth International Violin Competition, followed by the 2020 Avery Fisher Career Grant and 2020 Lincoln Center Emerging Artist Award. Since then, Stella has appeared across North America, Europe, and Asia in concerto, recital, and chamber music performances. She recently made debuts with the New York Philharmonic, Chicago Symphony, Minnesota Orchestra, Israel Philharmonic, Chamber Orchestra of Europe, Baltimore Symphony, Belgian National…

“Waitress,” nominated for Best Musical and Best Original Score, will run through March 30 at the Paramount Theatre in Aurora. What is more American than apple pie? A small-town 
waitress with a dream and the ingredients for success! Sugar, butter, flour. These aren’t the only ingredients Jenna, a waitress and expert pie maker, uses to make her famous pies. Stuck in a small town and a loveless 
marriage, Jenna unexpectedly becomes pregnant, and then finds acceptance and love in the most unexpected place. Hoping to bake her way out of her troubles, she puts her heart and soul into her…

According to a press release from the City of St. Charles, Police Chief James Keegan will resign from the St. Charles Police Department effective March 19, 2025. Keegan had been on a personal leave of absence since Nov. 6, 2024. Deputy Police Chief Eric Majewski is serving as interim Police Chief while a search for a new Police Chief is conducted. Keegan was appointed Chief of the St. Charles Police Department in 2014. Prior to that, he served as Chief of Police for the Village of Streamwood, Ill. During Keegan’s tenure in St. Charles, a new police station was built,…

The Arcada Theater in St. Charles will present Sons of Cream on Friday, February 21, at 8pm. (Doors open at 7pm) The band Cream were one of the first rock supergroups to emerge from the British rhythm and blues movement of the 1960s. They fused their love of the blues with elements of pop, rock, psychedelia, folk and African rhythms, producing an unprecedented blend of superlative songwriting with powerful improvisation. Now, nearly 60 years after the trio of Eric Clapton, Ginger Baker and Jack Bruce burst onto the global scene, the kids of one of the most iconic bands of…

February and beer fests aren’t usually thought of together here in Illinois. But Naperville is made of sterner stuff, it would seem. The 2025 Naperville Ale Fest – Winter Edition will take place this Saturday, February 22th. Situated on the frozen tundra of Naperville’s Frontier Park, Winter Edition is Illinois’ largest outdoor winter beer fest. The 2025 gathering will feature over 150 unique craft beers – with a strong emphasis on beers only available in winter – and 7 food trucks. For a list of participants, visit here. Gates open at 11:30, and the festival runs from 12pm – 4pm.…

North Central College in Naperville has a big weekend planned, with gripping theatre and inspiring music on the way. The 39 StepsFrom Thursday through Sunday, the North Central College Department of Theatre will present “The 39 Steps,” adapted by Patrick Barlow, from the novel by John Buchan. Mix a Hitchcock masterpiece with a juicy spy novel and add a dash of Monty Python, and you have a fast-paced whodunit for anyone who loves the magic of theatre. This two-time Tony and Drama Desk Award-winning treat is packed with nonstop laughs, over 150 zany characters and some good old-fashioned romance. Performances…

According to the National Weather Service, it looks like more snow and sleet is headed towards the Fox Valley, likely arriving sometime during the day Wednesday. The Chicago NWS predicts snow accumulation between 4″ and 6″ for most of the Fox Valley region, with potentially 8″ or more in the Elgin region. The Wednesday evening commute will almost certainly be affected, and ice and sleet will likely add to the problem. While bands of snow are expected pre-dawn through around 10am, the main storm will likely move in between 10am and 12pm, with periods of moderate to, at times, heavy…

Wine selections available at local wine stores and wineries in the Fox Valley area. Avery MaeMade with black raspberries from the renowned Lakeview Berry Farm in Wisconsin and the tart depth of black currants, this mead is elevated with Madagascar vanilla beans and the delicate sweetness of Pacific Northwest Meadowfoam honey. Aged on French oak, the final product is a harmonious blend of fruit-forward flavors, warm vanilla, and subtle woody complexity. The use of Meadowfoam honey adds a unique marshmallow and caramel nuance that complements the bold berries and velvety vanilla. Foxes Den Meadery101 S. Bridge StreetYorkville, IL 60560 Colinas…